Tag: depression

What a Little Kindness Can Do

by Penny Wilson Writes, posted in depression, Life

The Suicide rates are the highest they’ve been since WWII. This is a statistic that should be alarming to every one of us. It was to me when I heard it. I’ve advocated for Suicide Prevention and Awareness for a long time. In 2018, 1.5 million people attempted suicide.

Sunday mornings, I make it a habit to watch CBS Sunday Morning. There was a piece on there this Sunday, 1/19/2020, that really hit me. In the 1960s there was a study done on patients that had attempted suicide. The study discovered that a simple intervention, showing that you CARE, can prevent suicide. The suicide rates of people being released from psychiatric care in this study dropped by 50%, because of a simple act of compassion.

If you would like to see this segment, you can find it HERE. The piece is about 8 minutes long and can explain this remarkable study much better than I can.

I’ve written several posts about getting help if you need it for depression, suicide prevention, mental illness, etc., but I had not thought about the other side of the coin. What if we Reach Out and SHOW someone that we care today? Can it really make a difference?

It turns out that yes, it can.

I had an experience on Saturday, that really hit me as an unusual act by a stranger. I was at the gas pump filling my tank. It’s cold, the wind is blowing, but the sun is shining for the first time in days. I think everyone wanted to get out and soak up some of that sunshine. While I was pumping my gas, a woman pulled her car along side mine at the next pump over. She got out of her car and with a big smile on her face gave me a very cheerful “Good morning!” I instantly smiled! We exchanged a few words about the sunshine and the cold. But that whole experience left me smiling for the remainder of the day.

Why? Because a stranger took a few seconds and showed some compassion and kindness. Then on Sunday, I saw the piece about the suicide rates. These two instances, I believe, was God’s way of saying to me, “Penny, you need to take action. Pay attention to this!”

Why on earth was that woman that greeted me at the gas pump’s kindness so unusual to me?? THAT’S the real question here.

We get so tied up in our own lives, our own head, that we can’t see the world around us anymore. A few words or a smile might make all the difference in someone’s life. HERE is that link again.  Please watch it. I think it will change your prospective on how you look at those around you.

Sometime back, I pledged to do One Kind Thing every day. For the most part, I’ve stuck with that. But I challenge myself and you, to do more. I challenge us to Reach Out to someone today, and tomorrow, and the next day. Let’s give that other person a reason to smile.

Copyright (C) 2019 Penny Wilson

Thank you for joining me on this journey. ❤ Penny

Image by John Hain from Pixabay

 

 

Depression, Looking for Answers?

by Penny Wilson Writes, posted in depression

The reason for this post is because I was looking back at my stats for 2019. My most liked post and my most visited post is one called Depression and Denial. This tells me that people WANT information on this subject.

Those of you that have followed me for a while, know the reasons that I continue to write and speak out about Depression. My #1 reason is this: EVERY DAY 121 Americans commit suicide.  50% of those people suffered from depression.  Reason enough to write about it?  I thought so too. My #2 reason I write about it is to help end the stigma that surrounds Depression.

If you’re new to my blog and for some reason you’ve come across this post, maybe you’re looking for answers. Maybe you’re looking for help. Maybe you’re confused about how and why you feel the way that you do. Maybe, maybe, something that you find on my blog will help.

I pray that’s so.

If you need help, or if you’re just looking to get some questions answered about what you’re feeling, please visit my Mental Health Help page. On this page, you will find a lot of links, contact information, social media connections and phone numbers for different ways to seek help.

Also on this page are different posts that I’ve written on the subject of depression and mental health help. You might browse through these posts and see if there is something there that will connect with you. HERE is that link again.

I’ve lived this. I’ve walked this walk. I know about the hopelessness, the darkness that encompasses everything in your life. I know about the isolation, the feeling of being lost. I know what you’re dealing with. If you need answers, I hope you find something here that helps you. Stay strong. There IS help for you.

Thank you for joining me on this journey. ❤ Penny

(C) 2020 Penny Wilson

 

 

 

New Year and Depression

by Penny Wilson Writes, posted in depression, Writing

I know this is not a new post, but I felt that the subject was important enough to repeat.  Thank you for joining me on this journey. ❤ Penny

Penny Wilson Writes

As the end of the year approaches, we all tend to reflect on what has happened over the course of the year.  I want to go back a little further than that.

In May of 2017, I came out of a several-years-long depression.  I remember it so clearly.  It was like a veil had been lifted and I was seeing the world for the first time.

With this in mind, I looked back at my stats for the last couple of year here on WordPress.

You can clearly see that in 2017 there was a good-sized spike in my activity here.  That new enthusiasm to write was due to the “awakening” from my depression.

My Most Viewed post of all time has been one I titled Depression-A-Killer.  That tells me that there is still a HUGE need for enlightenment, awareness and information.  The stigma remains, but I do think…

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Page Improvement

by Penny Wilson Writes, posted in depression, Life, Writing

I’ve made some modifications to my page on Depression and Mental Health Help.  I was just copying and pasting every new post onto that page.  This made for a LOT of information.

Now, you will see a picture and a Title.  Click on the Title and it will take you directly to that particular post.  I think this makes the page much more appealing and easier to navigate.

If you’ve not visited this page on my blog, pop in and have a look around.  If you have additional, useful information that you would like to see added, please contact me.

As always, thank you for joining me on this journey.  ❤ Penny

 

How Depression Affects Movement: Energy, Psychomotor Retardation & Leaden Paralysis — Mental Health @ Home

by Penny Wilson Writes, posted in depression

REBLOG: Please read this wonderful article by Ashley over at MH&H.

Depression is a mental illness that very often has physical effects. There are several ways that depression can affect movement, and this post will explore low energy, psychomotor retardation, and leaden paralysis. These symptoms can occur in both bipolar and unipolar depression. Low Energy Fatigue is one of the most commonly experienced symptoms of depressed. …

via How Depression Affects Movement: Energy, Psychomotor Retardation & Leaden Paralysis — Mental Health @ Home

Glass House

by Penny Wilson Writes, posted in depression, Life

Looking out through the glass walls, I keep my distance.  You see, the glass lets me observe life without getting my hands dirty.

Become a participant?  Oh, no.  Risk the safety of my glass sanctuary?  I couldn’t possibly!

I’ve built perfection here.  Everything in its place.  Everything as it should be.

Some people say that I must be lonely.  I have no time to be lonely.  Maintaining perfection keeps me busy.  I must tend to the Blue Bells next, for the rows are askew.

Later, I will lounge in my perfect straight-back chair and gaze through the perfect glass walls.  I will watch as you go about the messy business of life.  You love each other and hate each other.  You birth children and neglect them.  You give life and destroy it.

I have no need for such insanity.

I was like you, once.  I loved and had my heart broken.  I worked and toiled.  My children grew and turned away from me.  They have their own glass houses to build.

The stench of your evil does not penetrate my sanctuary.  I can safely observe what most would call life.

*I seem to be ever more aware of the passage of time and life not lived or time wasted.  I feel it slipping by me and I know I cannot slow its progress.  Depression was the thief that stole much of my life from me.  It shakes me to my core to realize that it took me this long to realize the precious jewel that is life. 

*I originally wrote and posted this in 2018.  Although not new, I felt it deserved a 2nd outing.  I hope you enjoyed.

Copyright (C) 2018 Penny Wilson

It’s OK To Ask For Help

by Penny Wilson Writes, posted in depression, Life

Do you know a young adult or child that is struggling with depression, abuse, suicidal thoughts, anxiety, bullying, or other painful life event?  I discovered an AMAZING website that might help!  Go to YOUR LIFE YOUR VOICE .ORG   Call 1-800-448-3000  Or text to # 20121.  

This site has a ton of information on it!  You can text, chat, call, email your question or concern to get help.  They also have an App.  If you or someone you know needs help, check out this site!  Tell your friends!

Although this site seems to be aimed to young adults or kids, it has information on it that would be helpful to someone of any age.

Getting help for depression, suicide prevention and other difficult mental health issues is a subject that is important to me.  Please check out my page on Depression & Mental Health Help.  On this page, I’ve posted a lot of different articles on getting help for Mental Health issues.  

If you have contact information that I do not have listed on my Depression & Mental Health Help page,  please either leave the information in the comments below, or use my Contact page and send me an email and I will see about getting the information added to the page.

The Suicide Prevention Hotline, available 24/7 is 1-800-273-8255

A terrific website on this can be found HERE.

There is a site specifically to help our veterans.  Find that site HERE.

Is talking to someone too much for you?  It was for me at times.  There is a Crisis Text Line.  Text 741741 and you can text with a counselor.

Want to do an online chat?  There’s a site for that too.  Find it HERE.

You can even TWEET with a crisis counselor at @800273TALK on Twitter.

HERE is a link to many international phone #’s for Suicide Prevention.

This is a British number to help Children in crisis.  08001111

*Thank you, as always, for joining me on this journey.  ❤ Penny

Depression and Denial

by Penny Wilson Writes, posted in depression

It’s like it’s a scar that must be hidden. Like some dirty secret.  An ugly sweater you keep in the back of the closet and only bring it out when that aunt comes to visit.  You hide it.  You deny it, even to yourself.

There are the days when you tell yourself “I’m ok”, as you look in the mirror.  You do what you have to do to to get through the next moment, the next hour, the next day.

But you’re not ok and you know it.  Your sleeping too much.  You’re avoiding any social interaction, isolating yourself.  Things that normally bring you joy, no longer do.  There is this dark cloud over everything in your life.

Why do people that are depressed deny it?  The answer is complicated.  Often, the person going through the depression is embarrassed.  They want to appear “normal”.  They don’t want people to think there is something wrong with them.  There is such a stigma attached to depression and other forms of mental illness that the person hides it from those around them and even from themselves.

Sometimes, they don’t know that they’re depressed.  They know something’s not right, but they don’t recognize it.  Depression is a sneaky thief.  It sneaks in under the radar and robs you of the joy in your life.

What can you do if you see that a loved one is depressed but they deny it?  Be there for them.  Listen, talk, check-in with them.  Take that extra minute, make that phone call, or send that text.  Get them out of their isolation.  Take them to lunch, pop in for a quick visit.

Since a depressed person will often isolate themselves, it is incredibly important to BE THERE, not just physically, but emotionally.  Be supportive, encouraging and most of all, be caring.  They won’t want your attention, at least not outwardly.  They will push you away and try to discourage you, telling you that they are fine that nothing is wrong.

Encourage that loved one to seek help.  If you are sure that they need help, don’t give up.  Don’t turn your back on them.  BE THERE for them.  You might just save a life.

The Suicide Prevention Hotline, available 24/7 is 1-800-273-8255

A terrific website on this can be found HERE.

There is a site specifically to help our veterans.  Find that site HERE.

Is talking to someone too much for you?  It was for me in the past at times.  There is a Crisis Text Line.  Text 741741 and you can text with a counselor.

Want to do an online chat?  There’s a site for that too.  Find it HERE.

You can even TWEET with a crisis counselor at @800273TALK on Twitter.

HERE is a link to many international phone #’s for Suicide Prevention.

This is a British number to help Children in crisis.  08001111

Copyright (C) 2019 Penny Wilson

 

 

 

Illuminating The Dark

by Penny Wilson Writes, posted in depression, Life, Poetry, Writing 


Nightmares
and illusions

Challenges

Hurt
and anger

Barracades 

Pen and paper 
are sword 
and shield 

Adversity 
expelled 
onto the page

Consumed
banished

Darkness
illuminated
once more  

Copyright © 2019 Penny Wilson

The Lies I Tell Myself

by Penny Wilson Writes, posted in depression, Poetry 


I can do this. Deep breath. Hands shaking. 

I can do this.

Shake it off. Mirror check. Smile. One more deep breath.

I can do this.

Open the door. 

No.  

Trembling. Weak knees. Sweating. Shaking.

I can do this. 

Step across the threshold. Face the world.

I can do this.  

Copyright (C) 2019 Penny Wilson

*Depression. Deep. Real. Depression, can be so debilitating, it 
can make you immobile, frozen. There are days when it's 
hard to leave the house. It's even hard to leave your bed. 
You put on a smile and face the world. Because you have to. 
You tell yourself, whatever lies you have to, in order to 
maintain the facade that everything is alright. 
As always, thank you for joining me on this journey.  Penny